#1: [06-Jan-01] (incomplete)

19-May-2002 -- I departed the last confluence, 43N 99W, and had a little trouble following the route the mapping program recommended. Some of the roads it said to take didn't exist. But after I made it to a main road, I had no troubles reaching this confluence. I passed an old dilapidated schoolhouse along the way and took a photo of it.

This confluence has been attempted before. The visitor came to a No Trespassing notice and stopped. I attempted to contact the landowner, but according to Ernie Wondercheck who manages the adjacent ranch, he was in Alaska. I was able to drive around and access the confluence from another road without having to cross any posted land. Mr. Wondercheck was a great guy. He invited me in for a soda and we chatted for an hour or so before I had to leave.

The land here in central Nebraska is beautiful. There are rolling sand hills and the North Loop River comes within 400 meters of the confluence. There was a beautiful tree lined lane leading to the ranch nearest the point. After taking photos from the spot, I walked down to the river, saw a deer resting on the bank and was able to get a photo of it before it ran away.

The sun was going down, so I headed to Valentine, Nebraska to spend the night before starting out to the next confluence on my trip - - 43N 101W.

Danny Strickland
www.artgaga.com